Ronald Victor Collins

Our dear father, Ron Collins, passed away February 1st, 2023, in Fairburn Georgia. Dad was born in Brighton Massachusetts on April 25th, 1947. He was the second of four rough and tumble Irish brothers. His early days were filled with baseball, hockey, skipping school, and a whole lot of mischief. Dad loved his family dearly. He idolized his older brother Jimmy, and fiercely protected his younger brothers Johnny and Joey. The four brothers would fight like cats and dogs, but they were an unstoppable force of four, and they were untouchable to any and all outsiders. Dad’s father (Ron) was a first generation American and his mother (Helmi), emigrated from Lapland, Finland. Growing up in a fireman’s family in blue collar Boston wasn’t the easiest environment, but their family, their cousins, and their friends made south west Boston a place that my dad loved. Our father loved to reminisce of his run ins with nuns at Saint Columbkille, he missed his high school friends, and he kept in touch with his Boston family right up until the end. From the streets of Boston in the 50’s and 60’s to being our dad, coach, and friend (with a brief unplanned stop as a soldier in Vietnam) Ron Collins lived a full and adventurous life. The man held no punches, had a quick Irish tongue, and always told you how he felt. While our dad did not invent the rotary engine or chart a path to the new world, we did learn a few things about life from our father. Here are a few things to take with you from his time with us. First, Ron Collins never met a hat he didn’t like. Old, new, dirty, too big, too small…..Ron Collins had a lifelong love affair with bad hats. The worse the better…as kids….we were often horrified to see just what hat would make the cut for that year’s vacation. And he never disappointed. If you see hats at truck stops and wonder who in the world would buy such a thing….here is your answer, our dad… Next, we learned that fishhooks have a “people” side and a “fish” side, we have countless real-world examples of our dad showing us how to tell one from the other. Dad was serious about fishing….he lived to be on the water. I think my dad would love you all to write to your congressmen and get the Bald Eagle removed and have the Atlantic Bluefish accepted as our great nation’s symbol. He LOVED fishing for blues, loved it, and he had stories about it for days…. Lastly, Ron Collins was always there to talk. He loved to shoot the breeze, he asked great questions, he loved to hear about all our grandkids, he loved to tell stories of his past, our past, he loved to talk about his friends and family. He was a storyteller, he kept stories alive, and he was damn good at it. Ron loved being outdoors, he was a great fisherman and an avid hunter. He took all of us kids with him from a young age fishing for blues on the beach, fishing off-shore, or trout fishing in the mountains. He personally took me alongside him on hunting trips for as long as I can remember. He was happiest outside…he was at peace in the woods, by a stream, or next to a lake…..and, thanks to him, that peace is in all of us. Both the Elks Club of Union City and the Senior Center in Palmetto were near and dear to his heart. Our dad is survived by a bunch of us that dearly miss him, here is a short list: his best friend Mary, our cousins Jimmy, Sean, Eric, and Stephan. His cousin Beverly (the aunt Beverly), grandkids, India, Beau, Michael, Megan, Kara, and Ana. And lastly, my brother Kevin, my sister Cathy, and me (Chris). God, if you are reading this, I hope your insurance is up to date, because you have the last of the Collins brothers coming through the gates. There is sure to be a party in heaven with those four back together. Dad, we miss you so much, we will think of you often, you made us who we are…..and please try not to break anything up there. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 11,2023 at 12:30 at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, 3 Village Rd., Newnan, GA 30265. Inurnment will follow at 2:00 at Westminster Memorial Gardens, 2090 GA-54, Peachtree City, GA 30269. In lieu of flowers please donate in Dad’s name to the Disabled Veterans National Foundation or the American Legion. https://www.dvnf.org/donation/ https://www.legion.org/donate/memorials

Ronald Victor Collins

April 25, 1947 - February 1, 2023